Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, said it’s not surprising the resource sector is bankrolling Australia’s major parties.
“Analysis released today by the Centre for Public Integrity showing the resource industry is the biggest donor in Australian politics highlights just how weak our political donation laws are,” Mr Wilkie said. “Over the past 20 years the mining, oil and gas sectors have paid a whopping $136.8 million to the Liberal, National, Labor and Palmer United parties.
“And the reality is that no-one, be it an individual or corporation, gives enormous sums of money to a political party or candidate without expecting something in return.
“The same Coalition that has collected $15.2 million from the resource industry has been inflaming the climate wars for years and is currently promoting a short sighted and destructive ‘gas-led recovery’ from the pandemic. What a great return for the industry on its investment by political donations.
“It’s well beyond time federal donation laws are reformed. Australia urgently needs real-time reporting of donations over $1,000, a cap on donations and recognition that any expenditure which favours a party or candidate, for example resource industry advertising, is in fact a political donation. The major parties must cut their ties with the fossil fuel industry and start working in the genuine interests of the country.”
Mr Wilkie supports the real-time disclosure of political donations. He does not accept donations from gambling, liquor, fossil fuel or tobacco corporations and declares donations of more than $1,000 in real-time at supportandrewwilkie.com